'It's Breath or Death'

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When trying to quit smoking, experts agree desire to quit is the biggest factor for success

There are several methods people use when trying to stop smoking, from pills to gum to patches, hypnosis or even fear. Not all the experts agree on which method is best, obviously.

But the experts do agree on one important thing when it comes to kicking the nicotine habit: The person has to want to quit and be emotionally prepared to do so to expect success.

"You have to have a plan. Even if you really want to quit, you have to plan for it and set a date certain to quit. Some people do well by signing a contract committing them to it, with a support person co-signing," said Sara Shull, a respiratory therapist who manages the Outpatient Pulmonary Rehab Program for OSF Healthcare.

Part of the plan, she said, is deciding ahead of time the steps to take to avoid triggers — those things that cause a smoker to grab a cigarette and lighter, such as stressful situations or partying with friends — and what to do when the urge hits.

"And keep reflecting on the reasons you are quitting and what your goals are. So much of it is emotional and mental that the physical part is often the easiest, or maybe the least difficult. You have to want it and decide to do it," Shull said.

Lanell Tjaden-Huber, a respiratory therapist at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, said it's also important to find things to replace the euphoric feeling smokers get from nicotine. The best option is exercise as it replaces the endorphins, especially for those who quit smoking without any aids.

"Many people say doing it cold turkey is the best way because it gets the nicotine out of your system more quickly. But that is difficult and a person who quits cold turkey really has to want to quit," said Tjaden-Huber, whose patients are people who have already contracted pulmonary problems — many from years and years of smoking.

"People enjoy smoking. It gives them pleasure, even when they can't breathe any more. Breathing isn't enough of an incentive for some of them to quit, I guess. For others, it is. I know one woman who tells herself at least once a day, 'it's breath or death.' That works for her. But it's all about personal choices," she said.

Most of the patients she sees are hospitalized because of their pulmonary problems. Many will use a nicotine patch while in the hospitals as nobody is allowed to smoke in the buildings or even on the grounds at any of Peoria's hospitals.

"The real challenge is when they go home. A lot of them pick up a cigarette the first chance they get. But for a lot of others, the road to smoking cessation starts here," Tjaden-Huber said.

The American Cancer Society reports that only 4 percent to 7 percent of those who try to stop cold turkey have long-term success. The percentage rises to 25 percent for those who use medicines or other forms of assistance to quit the habit, it said.

"The truth is the quit smoking programs, like other programs that treat addictions, often have fairly low success rates. But that does not mean they are not worthwhile or that you should be discouraged," the American Cancer Society said on its website, www.cancer.org. "Your own success in quitting and staying quit is what really counts and you have some control over that. Even if you don't succeed the first few times, keep trying. You can learn from your mistakes so that you will be ready for those pitfalls the next time."

Among the methods to quit smoking that are used, other than doing it cold turkey, the use of the drug Chantix has shown success. One of the medications referred to smoking cessation aids, Chantix works by blocking the pleasant effects nicotine has on the brain. A person who starts taking Chantix, which is by prescription only, is told to continue smoking for the first week or so in order for the brain to get used to not having the nicotine satisfaction while the person smokes. That way, the craving dissipates, lessening the need for the cigarette.

That's how Chantix, being a non-nicotine drug, works as opposed to nicotine patches that transfer nicotine into the body without the smoke or holding a cigarette. The idea is to gradually decrease the strength of the patches, or the amount of the nicotine being absorbed, until the amount is so slight it is easier to give it up completely.

It works that way with other nicotine replacement methods, as well, including nicotine gum, lozenges and nasal spray.

Nicotine replacement therapy is meant to be used for only a set period of time, usually a matter of weeks. And smoking while using those therapies, particularly a patch that is constantly feeding nicotine into the body, can be dangerous if it causes a person's heart to race.

Another "replacement" smokers usually need is something to have in their hands, between their fingers, to emulate holding a cigarette. "It can be anything shaped like one or the same size, like a small stick or a straw or toy. I know of one man who taped up a real cigarette so he couldn't light it but could still hold it. Whatever works, use it," said Shull.

At OSF smokers are given pamphlets that describe the amount of money a person can expect to save by giving up cigarettes with possible suggestions of how to spend the money. Some pamphlets also describe, in vivid detail, all the substances that are in cigarettes and their effects on the body. "Sometimes that fear is enough to compel people to quit," Tjaden-Huber said.

Another method that seems to be picking up steam is low dose laser therapy, which is related to acupuncture. Low level lasers, or cold lasers, are used instead of needles on the same places as acupuncture — the ears, wrists and around the mouth, mostly — to relax the smoker and trigger the release of endorphins and thus mimic the effects of nicotine.

The American Cancer Society said there isn't much scientific evidence to suggest laser therapy or acupuncture really work and the Food and Drug Administration is still reviewing it, even though it is perfectly legal in the United States. The Internet cites other organizations that say there hasn't been enough study to show one way or the other.

In Peoria the only cold laser therapy being used is at Laser Solutions, which has been in business since 2006 and has treated more than 2,000 people for smoking cessation in that time, said Jody Williams, who owns Laser Solutions at 3100 N. Dries Lane.

She contends her success rate is 80 percent. "All the research I know about shows it can work and not harm anyone. They've been using it in Europe and Canada for more than 30 years," Williams said.

Williams became a believer when laser therapy helped her quit smoking. Her therapy was delivered by her mother Linda Sprague, a registered nurse who became a licensed laser technician after laser therapy helped her stop smoking after battling the habit for 25 years, Williams said. That was in 2004 and Sprague soon after got trained herself at a clinic in Florida and opened Laser Solutions. She sold it to her daughter but still assists in giving treatments.

While the FDA has approved cold laser therapy as treatment for pain it hasn't yet given full approval of the method for smoking cessation. Because of that not all insurance companies cover the treatments, which cost $250 for the initial treatment and two follow-up treatments. But Williams said it is catching on and that some insurance is starting to pay for at least part of the treatments, as are some companies for their employees.

Patients can get booster treatments at reduced rates later if life circumstances cause them to waver or even fall off the wagon. "We want to help them before the situation spirals out of control and they are full-blown smokers again," she said.

"Our treatments are like all others in that the person quitting really has to want to quit. There are people who say they want to but they really aren't being truthful with themselves. We can usually tell through our pre-treatment assessments those who will struggle the most," she said.

Another relative of acupuncture is auriculotherapy. With this method certain pressure points in the ear are stimulated to mimic the effects of nicotine. In Peoria it is done at Harrison Chiropractic and Stop Smoking Clinic in Peoria and Pekin. More information is available at harrisonchiropractic.net.

Also important for a person to quit smoking successfully is a strong support system. That's another reason Williams will offer booster treatments at reduced rates. "We want to be there for them long-term, help them in any way we can. We love to help people who want to help themselves," she said.

The American Cancer Society and American Lung Association are two organizations that strongly suggest having a support system in place before trying to quit smoking. "It's really hard to do alone, there's no question about it. We've seen it and that's why we recommend a support system," said Tjaden-Huber.

Shull runs a support system with the Outpatient Pulmonary Rehab Program that's called the Better Breathers Club. It meets monthly at the RiverPlex and she said its members become friends and "it can be a wonderful support system for people who want to quit, who are trying to quit, because they want to breathe better."

She suggested anybody interested in the Better Breathers Club call her at (309) 256-4581. "It really is a good group that loves to help others," Shull said. "They've been there; they know what it's like."

She said the American Lung Association offers free advice on finding support as well as a helpline at (800) 548-8252. "Use any resource you can. It's that important," she said.

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